Most modern applications were updated to avoid security prompts and other issues introduced by the tighter security in Outlook. If you receive security warnings you should check for an updated version of the application.

The Outlook Email Security Update for Outlook 98 and Outlook 2000 potentially affects almost every application that uses Outlook.

This list assumes that the most stringent restrictions are in place, in other words, that none of the administrative settings have been applied. Loosening the restrictions with the administrative options can, of course, change the behavior listed here.

If your application is not shown here, these pages provide an overview that may help you determine whether your application may be affected:

• OL2000: Known Issues with the Outlook E-mail Security Update
• OL2000: Developer Information About the Outlook E-mail Security Update
• OL98: Known Issues with the Outlook E-mail Security Update
• OL98: Developer Information About the Outlook E-mail Security Update

If you installed Office XP SP3 and now get “a program is trying to access you address book” dialog, see Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3 for a list of programs known to cause the warning.

Microsoft Office | Accessibility Aids | Slipstick Systems Gallery
Other Applications | More Information

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office

• Using the File | Send To command pops up the address list access prompt.
• Using the File | Sent To | Routing Recipient command pops up both the address list and sending prompts. See OFF2000 Routing Office Document Prompts After You Apply Outlook E-mail Security Update. (However, routing is truly broken in Word. See below.)
• Macro security for Office applications is set to High.

Microsoft Word

• Attempting to perform a mail merge to electronic mail pops up both the address list and sending prompts for automation security. This essentially makes the feature unusable, since you must wait 5 seconds to confirm each send. In Office XP, merge to e-mail in HTML format does not trigger the prompts, but because it strips all hyperlinks, it’s equally unusable. (Mail merge to plain text still triggers the prompts in Office XP.)
• Sequential routing may be broken.

Microsoft Excel

• Using the SendMail method in a macro pops up the address list prompt for automation security.

Microsoft PowerPoint

• Animations do not run in a slide you receive as an e-mail message, because they are handled by a JavaScript file attachment.
• When you schedule a presentation broadcast or online meeting, you see both the address list and sending prompts for automation security.

Microsoft Access

• OL2002 Cannot Send an Access Database Table As an XML Attachment — Export to .xml format, rather than sending an “unsafe” .mdb file

Accessbility Aids

Voice input programs and other accessibility aids that use Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA) may be affected, because they use MSAA’s method for programmatically clicking the Send button. See E-mail Security Update Could Hinder Accessibility Aids.

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Last reviewed on Dec 8, 2011